Note: I received a free unpublished proof of this book, for a limited time, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

This book contains a great deal of violence, blood, gore, and death, with a bit of mild sexuality, hence I only recommend it to adults (18+).

You know, I am actually tempted to skip the review on this one and say: Read the book! Don’t read the description first, just read the book!

While I instantly clicked “Request” based on the first line in this book’s blurb, and thoroughly enjoyed it knowing what was going to happen, I kind of think that some of you might enjoy the book more if you don’t know that, and then let the realization dawn on you as the plot unfolds.

So for those of you who like to take this approach to books sometimes: It’s a book about a woman who guards a castle, is about to retire, and encounters an emergency situation.

If you don’t want to take that approach, SPOILERS AHEAD.

Okay, this isn’t the most literary fantasy book ever, and I don’t think it will really be eligible for literary awards for that reason, but for an action/adventure story with a lot of suspense, humor, and fight scenes with medieval-type weaponry, it’s very good.

For a book selling itself as “a gender-flipped ‘Die Hard’ set in a mysterious castle,” which is a tall order to begin with, it actually does a pretty good job of filling those shoes. This is high praise coming from me, who didn’t even like the book that “Die Hard” was based on because the screenwriters and actors were the only people who made that story watchable. (I’ve written another answer about that here: Elizabeth Meade's answer to Is the Die Hard movie better than the book it is based on?)

Half the time when people say a book is “inspired by” some other popular franchise in this way, I expect it to be loosely-inspired by it and quite possibly throw away some of the important aspects of the inspiration to replace them with something else. (See: Norse mythology retellings/books inspired by Norse mythology that didn’t really “land” properly)

The Last Shield doesn’t do that. If you are looking for a genuine retelling of “Die Hard” that is not breaking anybody’s copyright claims, look no further. Johnston manages to hit nearly all of the important notes: a tough protagonist who is fighting to save someone they love, a gang of bad guys with a lot of weapons and no real redeeming values, a heist planned by said bad guys that takes place in the winter and creates a hostage situation, a lot of tunnel-crawling scenes, and a lot of fight scenes. There is even a vault with seven layers of security, though it contains magical objects instead of negotiable bearer bonds.

The political nuances of “Die Hard”, such as the unspoken backdrop of the Cold War and the implications of a multinational corporation having a massive pile of untraceable currency, aren’t present, but I honestly think that is for the best here. Since films that uncritically portray police officers as heroes, wryly dubbed “copaganda” by modern media, have come under rightful criticism for portraying an inaccurate narrative and consciously or unconsciously promoting specific real-world policty points, it is kind of refreshing to see an action/thriller story that doesn’t really revolve around modern institutions at all. I guess the main character is technically defending medieval feudalism, but trying to compare that to modern American state violence isn’t really useful in this context, particularly since that’s not something that any of us might actually vote for based on what we read or watch on TV. While there’s a whole discussion to be had on how media portrays the past, that’s different from how it portrays modern political issues, and is probably a topic for 500 more answers on books that are genuinely trying to portray history, and not clearly set in a fictitious D&D-esque fantasy world that never was.

(Of course, if any of you out there are trying to create a “Medieval Feudalism” political party, which I highly doubt, please, uh, don’t.)

Since the politics of modern action films are mostly absent, that also eliminates the classic plot twist in which the “terrorists” reveal themselves to actually be “really good thieves who don’t actually care about politics”. However, I’d say that’s also for the best, because framing your villains as hardcore Communists in all but actual motive, particularly in this day and age, sends a political message that really doesn’t need to be there for the story to work. Leaving out the twist also sets readers up for an action thriller from the start, which is important in fantasy because a lot of modern fantasy genuinely relies on political intrigue. Setting up one kind of story by playing the political intrigue angle perfectly straight, only to plot-twist the whole thing into a heist movie, might be off-putting to some readers.

While some adaptations that replace male characters with a female cast fall into “silly female stereotypes in which the women can’t do anything as well as the men” or “nothing changes except they are female”, the switch actually works here. The main character, Briar, is tough and good at what she does, but still faces realistic challenges. While she is a very skilled fighter who doesn’t have a problem with killing off bad guys, she still appreciates her friends and cares for the man she loves. On the other side of the coin, the main antagonist, Imperatrix, isn’t let off the hook for her actions or seen as “misunderstood” just because she is female. It’s also clear that she’s not the author’s parody of a feminist or a “girlboss” villain because she really doesn’t care about any other women, kills many of them off, and pretty much hates everybody. Being female also doesn’t make her any less good at what she does.

The other characters don’t “line up” per se, though I see a few cases where inspiration was definitely taken from the original film’s villains. This is where Johnston’s originality really shines, creating a new story based on the general plot beats of “Die Hard” and its many clones but with its own memorable cast of characters. As in, there is a character who is kind of like Harry Ellis but plays a very different role, and a character who is kind of like Karl Vreski but with a bow and arrow, and the analogues for Takagi and Holly are actually the same person. I would also argue that the plot role taken up by Hans Gruber is split between two characters, at least in terms of character personality.

There are some other nice touches that reference the source material, but given that they are key plot points I am not going to list them here because those would be massive spoilers. Suffice to say that while The Last Shield isn’t and doesn’t try to be a blow-by-blow recreation of “Die Hard”, a few more key tropes I haven’t mentioned remain in place.

On the other side of the whole adaptation/retelling angle, I don’t think you need to see, enjoy, or understand “Die Hard” or similar action films in order to enjoy this book. While a few small parallels might be lost on some readers, the book frankly reads enough like a typical D&D campaign or other chiefly action-based fantasy story that it doesn’t hinge on an understanding of modern action movie tropes to be readable. If readers are more into the fantasy than the action, so to speak, the setting and vague magic system are fun and interesting enough to create a plausible fantasy world for a single book. These elements are not as deep as those in longer fantasy books or series with a lot of intricate details, but as a result of this the author doesn’t overwhelm the plotline with info-dumping or overly-confusing explanatory segments. I do not think a sequel is planned for this book so I think there was just the right amount of setting and atmosphere to carry a fun adventure.

I also thought this book had more positive messages than “Die Hard” and similar action films. The love between the protagonist and her love interest feels more mutual and less forced; she isn’t desperately trying to get her divorced partner to return to her. While Briar is happy to use violence to defend the castle from the invaders who are legitimately trying to kill everyone, she doesn’t take pleasure in violence for its own sake. She is loyal to her fellow guards and her kingdom, rather than coming across as the typical “loose-cannon” or “lone wolf” archetype. Some of the side characters get some of their own character development, at least more than is typical of action films, which brings an optimistic and hopeful note to a story with somewhat grim overtones.

Overall, readers who really, really lean into the “fantasy” or “action movie” side of things might find this book leaves something to be desired, but I think most people who enjoy fantasy and action/adventure fiction will enjoy the mix of tropes.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

...but due to life circumstances, I didn't manage to read it before the book was officially published, so I bought it anyway.

I dislike talking about books or authors in a way that compares them to other books or authors, but sometimes that can not be avoided or even it shouldn't be. One of those instances is The Last Shield.

This novel is essentially a love letter to the usual fantasy fair of the '80s. Vaguely Celtic setting echoes many of then-popular series, such as Deverry Cycle by Katherine Kerr, although presented with a modern take. Character building is by no means complicated or nuanced, which works very well for this novel. We are in no way left in doubt about who are the good guys and who are the villains and their motives are pretty straightforward. In another novel this may have been overly simplistic and a sign of bad writing, but in the case of The Last Shield this simplistic approach is executed perfectly and very similarly to some of the popular movies from the '80s so that the reader can simply lay back and enjoy the action. And action abounds.

While I was reading the second half of the novel, I had a strange feeling that I'm reading a John Gwynne's novel - which was a bit strange, since there are some obvious differences in the prose. At first, I suspected that it's because I'm currently translating Hunger of the Gods, and Johnston's Briar is in a way similar to Gwynne's Orka, although their personalities are wildly different, as well as motivations, but then I realized that similarity is in fact in the description of the fighting scenes. Johnston does this masterfully and with a full knowledge how it feels to strike someone with a sword or to be struck by a shield. I truly have no idea if I'm right or wrong, but I would bet that he fights for real in reenactments, like Gwynne does. If you want to read some truly visceral fighting scenes, The Last Shield is a book for you. Johnston doesn't shy from the gritty bits and injuries and his protagonist isn't empowered in any way beyond raw determination and years of training, so that makes her somehow more worthy of reader's respect.

This was one of the best fantasy reads of this year for me, and this is the year with new books by Bennett and Kristoff, among others. I've read thousands of SF&F titles and translated well north of hundred, so I think that I can say with some assurance that The Last Shield can be placed on the same shelf with John Gwynne, Mark Lawrence, Jay Kristoff and other modern masters of gritty fantasy.

The Last Shield is described as being a “gender flipped Die Hard.” I don’t actually like Die Hard but I did enjoy this book.

The story focuses on Briar who, after receiving a life changing injury defending the future king and his regent from assassins, is forced to take out her enemies Die Hard fashion when they decide to invade the castle to gain access to whatever is in a magical vault.

It was such a fun read. I really liked Briar. She has that tired yet never give up attitude that a lot of older characters in fantasy novels have and I never get tired of that trope. It never fails to entertain me. I very much enjoyed reading her POV. It switched to other characters too over the course of the novel and I liked reading them as well, but Briar is my favourite.

The only negative I can think of is that this novel is a standalone. It’s good because everything gets neatly wrapped up in less than 400 pages but, on the other hand, it really isn’t enough time to spend with these characters.

I found the worldbuilding to be very well done. The story has a lot of danger and darkness but Johnston also manages to inject a good deal of humour into the story. I found The Last Shield to be a very enjoyable read with cool characters and a fun and violent story. I very much recommend.

Pitched as a gender-bent Diehard in a fantasy setting, this sounded like it should be fast-paced and fun. Unfortunately, after several weeks of trying to get into it, I am DNFing at 31%. I may return to it eventually, but the beginning has dragged for me, and I have other ARCs I’m chomping at the bit to get to. This starts out with an action scene that was quite entertaining and that was the only thing that kept me reading, but there are so many multi page passages just describing the castle while the main character lays on her sickbed after an injury that I just cannot continue right now.

It does have very positive reviews so far, so I’m willing to accept that this might just be me.

I had an absolute blast reading The Last Shield! This is an action-packed novel that borrows the premise of Die Hard and places it in a Medieval Castle. It’s a simple premise, but executed to perfection with high stakes and excellent pacing.

The lead character Briar is the only guard left standing when marauders invade the castle, kill the inhabitants and take the regent hostage. She is outgunned and outmatched, and must rely on her wits to try and even the odds, scrabbling for every possible advantage. The comparisons to Die Hard are completely fair in my opinion, as all the best features of the film are present here; the sneaking around secret passages, the ticking off of bad guys as their numbers are whittled down, and the jumps between Briar and the antagonists so we can see both sides plotting against each other. I personally feel the book lacked a truly clever and crafty villain to mirror Hans Gruber, but I’m pleased that we did get a fair number of named villains rather than just one or two.

This is a true action book, and fundamentally gets its basics spot on. The pacing is very well managed to keep stakes high throughout the novel. The fight scenes are also to be commended, since each fight was well choreographed and easy to follow what's happening. The balance achieved in the lead character’s ability is definitely to be commended; she is set up as the best fighter in the Shields, but the plot weaves in circumstances to level the playing field without it feeling artificial.

Despite the book’s action focus, I was pleasantly surprised to find a bit of character development and progression in the novel too. I don’t think this is a book you necessarily pick out for its in-depth character building, so I don’t want to be overly harsh on its relative lack of character work, but the development around the main characters was a nice addition. I have similar thoughts on the world-building; there wasn’t a huge amount of substance to the world, but given the nature of the book I found myself not really minding.

As a fantasy and science fiction book reviewer who takes himself entirely too seriously, I am constantly looking for the latest cerebral and poetic hit to recommend and impress people I know. But, there is a time and a place for almost everything in fiction, and sometimes you just want pulpy fun that has a ridiculous premise and delivers fabulous spectacle. Often these books fall short, but The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston is a rare occurrence of delivering on all its ridiculous promises.

The Last Shield is billed as a standalone fantasy gender-swapped reimagining of the movie Die Hard, and despite a skyscraper’s worth of initial reservations I can safely say that this book absolutely delivers on this in the best way possible. The world-building of this book is succinct, yet engrossing. The ancient forest realm of Sunweald is bordered on two sides by far mightier nations, which is a bad place to start. To make matters worse, the Sunweald Palace is a relatively small estate with a vault of treasures and magical superweapons that are coveted by all. The only thing that stands between these greater powers and a catch of magical nukes is the Lord Regent, the young heir to the throne, and the realm’s elite Shields, dedicated to guarding the royal line and its treasures against all foes.

Unbeknownst to all, a group of vicious brigands called the Wildwood Reivers have been stealing arcane artifacts and smuggling them across the borders, out of Sunweald. The objects they most desire are stored in the mystical Wyrm Vault, hidden away deep in the bones of the earth, within the walls of the Palace itself. When the Reivers decide to make a big play for the grand vault itself, it falls to Briar (commander of the guard one day from retirement), to defend the ancient corridors and secret tunnels of the Palace.

Anyone even vaguely familiar with the movie Die Hard should be able to pick out the skeleton of the movie from the synopsis. My biggest worry going into The Last Shield was that I was just going to be watching a one-to-one reshoot of the movie, but with swords. I am happy to immediately say that Johnston uses the movie more as a thematic guiding light and less as holy source material. There is a ton of imagination and plenty of details in this book that feel fresh and new while also capturing the magic of the original movie. If you like Die Hard, and you like fantasy, here is something you will absolutely love that isn’t just lazy pandering. This is the poster child for how adaptations should work.

Much like John McClane, Briar is the focal point of this story, and the majority of the text (after some setup) is watching her just carve through brigands like a knife through hot butter. Briar’s deal is a “veteran who is so dedicated to her craft that she achieves a brutal murderous efficiency that an automaton would envy.” Briar rocks. She is the rare kind of older fantasy protagonist that we rarely get and I treasured her aches and pains; she is easily one of the most relatable protagonists I have read this year. She is a train just plowing through cars left on the track without ever slowing down.

Likewise, the villains are deliciously stabbable. I am not here for nuanced grey antagonists who actually have a point. I wanted greedy motherfuckers getting thrown in a woodchipper, and Johnston heard my siren call. I found myself saying “Eat it, dirtbag” to several deaths and felt nothing but adrenaline as Briar cleaned house. The spectacle is, on full display as Briar swings from towers, fights her way up spiral staircases, and banters with the villains. The story has a nice slow burn for the first fifth and then builds a terrifying momentum until the last page. There isn’t a ton of depth to the book, but that isn’t a problem. Sometimes you are in the mood for mindless fun made by a deft hand: and The Last Shield kills it in that regard.

I read this entire book in one sitting on a plane and don’t have a single regret. The Last Shield is a clever combination of spectacle and fun draped over a lovable protagonist. It is simply put, a good time, and if you are looking for a short distraction look no further.

Rating: The Last Shield – 8.5/10
-Andrew

Set in an ancient castle with dark, mysterious catacombs hiding dangerous artefacts and even more dangerous conspiracies, Cameron Johnston’s The Last Shield tells a riveting tale of survival, honour, duty, loyalty, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Let me start this off by saying that I had no clue what The Last Shield was about, except for the fact that it featured a strong female protagonist who I was supposedly going to adore. And lo and behold, Briar captured my heart the moment I met her! I mean, an older, prickly, stubborn, done-with-everyone’s-shit commander of the royal guard whose tongue is just as sharp as her weapons… how could I not fall in love?

The story opens with a deceptively comforting and almost cozy vibe in the castle while preparing for the supposedly peaceful Summer Solstice celebration, but the sinister prologue has cued us in about the deadly conspiracies lurking in the shadows. Soon, all hell breaks loose and Briar just manages to save the Lord Regent and King-in-waiting from a devious group of assassins hiding as druids, but she doesn’t get away unscathed; she might now have to live with a permanently injured leg, but you better bet that isn’t going to stop her from doing her duty and wreaking revenge on those who hurt her and her loved ones.

Now, I was expecting The Last Shield to be a fast-paced adventure full of non-stop action, but I think it actually shines brightest in its slower set-up and intimately character-driven storytelling. Briar’s slow recovery from her injury and her messy journey of grief over losing her unbeatable warrior identity and sense of purpose immediately became the highlight of the story for me, and I loved how carefully and authentically her healing process was depicted.

Moreover, the complex interpersonal relationships in The Last Shield really shine, and I was pleasantly surprised by the powerful character arcs of some of the supporting characters. See, I wasn’t expecting to be rooting for the royals here, but both Lord Regent Alaric and his nephew, the prickish prince Kester, proved to be absolute gems. I loved Kester’s journey of growth and independence, and the very subtle romantic tension between Briar and Alaric added an exciting spark to this story that I welcomed with open arms; burning with love and desire, but always held apart by their own duties, this the perfect execution of a strong and mature slow-burn romantic subplot.

Don’t mistake all this for me saying that The Last Shield lacks in action or tension though, because the opposite couldn’t be more true. From the very first page, Johnston sets up the tension and conflict, be that internal, interpersonal, or on a wider political scale, which created a looming sense of dread that kept me on my toes the entire way through. I was especially impressed by the masterful inclusion of some perspectives from the antagonists, which somehow didn’t take away from any of the mystery and intrigue, but only added to the complexity and pulse-pounding suspense.

Not to mention, the isolated setting and uncanny atmosphere of the castle and its catacombs was hauntingly immersive to me, and I loved the unpredictability of the dark sorcery and druidic magic. Some scenes almost leaned into the horror territory, and just the Imperatrix and her diabolical actions alone are pure nightmare material; even though her motivations and logic felt a bit murky to me at times, I also can’t deny that I was just morbidly fascinated and weirdly amused by her level of unhinged villainy.

While the ultimate climax of the story may have felt a bit chaotic and slightly rushed to me, I think The Last Shield is overall one of the stronger fantasy standalones I have read. Though if we ever get a spin-off (about Kester, please and thank you), I would absolutely be first in line. If you have been looking for a character-driven yet action-packed fantasy standalone featuring scarred protagonists, dark sorcery, druidic magic, deadly assassins, exhilarating fights, and a whole lot of heart, then you can’t go wrong with The Last Shield.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Cameron Johnston is a man of his word. With *The Maleficent Seven*, he promised readers *The Seven Samurai/The Magnificent Seven*, but with villains, and that’s what we got. With *The Last Shield*, he promised readers *Die Hard*, but gender-flipped and in a castle.

What we get is, in fact, *Die Hard*, but gender-flipped and in a castle.

In more detail: this is set in a castle built atop a vault containing a bunch of immensely powerful and dangerous ancient artifacts. The bad guys (including both external marauders and traitors from within) lure most of the garrison away, kill whoever is left, and have a couple of days to get past all the magical protections of the vault and steal the artifacts before the garrison realizes the danger and returns. Luckily, the commander of the palace guard was recovering from an injured leg and was missed during the initial takeover. So she has to slink about the castle, taking out invaders and working to rescue the Lord Regent who has been captured because they need his blood to open the vault.

The result, like the original *Die Hard*, isn’t something that’s going to change you to the very core of your soul, but it’s a hell of a ride.

I particularly liked how Bronze Age this was. In practical terms it isn’t really any different from most fantasy, but it gives a distinctly different aesthetic to the entire thing.

My only real complaint about the book was how long it took to really get to the meat of it. Once the castle was invaded and the Die Hard-ing (Dying Hard? Not sure how to verb that)
started in earnest, this was fun. The prelude to that part was fine, but I feel like it could have been compressed.

Content warning for graphic violence, and lots of it.

Yippee ki yay, motherfuckers.

Thank you to Cameron Johnson, Angry Robot, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of The Last Shield in exchange for my honest review.

This book is oddly addicting, though I would be lying if I said there were parts where I was not struggling. There was a lot of info-dumping right at the beginning of the book about Sunweald, the other nations, and what is going on in the book. From the.beginning we know that there are a group called the Wildwood Reivers that have been stealing arcane artefacts and smuggling them out of Sunweald. We also know that there are a lot of various political and religious temples, and that the kingdoms are struggling to get along. All that information is dumped on the reader pretty quickly. Then there is an assassination attempt which leads to Briar, the shield for the lord regent and the lord heir getting injured. While Briar is struggling with her injuries, there is a much larger assassination attempt. That second one was addicting and is the heart of the story. I loved to read about it. I went from struggling to get through the book to not being able to put the book down as I read about Briar trying to stop the plot before it succeeds.

While I thought there was a lot of good in this book, and I did get through it really fast, I am struggling to get past one key thing. What was the point of setting up these tensions between kingdoms and all this worldbuilding, if it was going to play such a small role in the grand scheme of things? I would rather have read more about the Shields and life in kingdom leading up to the assassination attempt, then I would have learning about the kingdom. There were a lot of cool concepts in this book, but I feel like it was just to much and not enough pages. I am unclear on if the hope is for this to be a series, or if this is just.a standalone. I hope it is a series largely because it feels like there was this big setup, just for the story to be about stopping an assassination attempt. If this does turn out to be a series, I would 100% read in because I thought the character development was outstanding and the concept was great, and the plot moved along well, I just was confused at times about why all this information was introduced but then not further explored.

When Angry Robot sent their pitch for books for the year one was very much "me" coded. Aging protagonist dealing with a Die Hard situation in a fantasy setting? Hell yes.

"The Last Shield" by Cameron Johnston takes place in Sunweald, a relatively small country with a history of magic and power that lends it protection. Because of course it's neighbors have beef with each other. Due to this the Regent has been playing politics to keep them occupied while the king comes of age. The commander of the royal guards, the Shields, Briar recently stopped an assassination attempt (she got real brutal on the would be killers) but was injured in the process. Aging, slower than she once was, a burden in her mind, she makes plans to leave Sunweald Palace. Unfortunately for the raiders who were spirited in, she hadn't fully retired.

Reasons to read:
-Stand alone, great fun, put your eyeballs on it
-Briar's inner thoughts definitely don't ring in my mind, or knees, as I get older
-It's very much a "find out" era for some people
-The Die Hard references has me cackling
-Oooo I like what you did with that ending

Cons:
-Don't think we will get a follow up that is like DH3

Review: The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston

Available now!

I received an Arc for my review from Angry Robot and Netgalley, and I thank them for the opportunity.

Quotes: "Imagine her spirit is watching you from the otherworld and do not let her death be pointless."

"A line had been carved right through her life, separating the before times from everything after, and she'd only just noticed it—had been forced to notice it. "And yet, the anger and frustration would kill me as quickly as a poisoned arrow to the heart."

"I'm no coward. Let me fight," he pleaded. "This is my home too. Those are my people and what's left of my family. I can't just run away and leave them to die."

"Shields endured. Shields never gave up. Shields protected."

Review: Briar, A shield, a protector of the king and the heir, is injured in an assassination attempt and is slowed up so much that she gives up her calling. Just minutes before leaving for good, the assailants attempt to capture the king and heir again. And they're in for a fight before she'll be done with them.
It very much feels like a genderbent fantasy version of Die Hard. With some changes. Technology = Magic. Bows and arrows, curses, and some good 'ol monsters thrown in there.

The story isn't hard to follow and flows nicely.
Briar is such a good character. And something about an injury plaguing the heroine throughout the story was so refreshing. It felt more real and relatable. She questioned what she's to do with her life after her role was taken from her by an unknown archer.
She still upholds her oath and won't abandon her king and people. Kester's growth in the story was so nice to read. He starts out afraid and becomes braver than most.
Overall, If you want an action-packed fantasy story, that's easily understandable and seemingly familiar with the Die Hard inspiration. Check this one out.
I'd give it 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks for reading

This book was such a wild ride to jump into and I loved every moment of it! It was gritty, dark, fun, and the story was utterly captivating!

I absolutely flew through this book because once I started it, there was no chance I was putting it down! Briar is this incredible female protagonist who takes no shit, is tough as nails, but also influences so many people around her to be good people. The world building done in this book was really easy to follow, and I had no trouble getting deeply immersed in this story as I was reading it!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

OMG John McLaine and Xena had a baby and she is named Briar! Tough as nails, easily irritated, no time for wusses but she has a heart dipped in loyalty and doesn't know the meaning of the word fail. To get to be the Commander of the Shields she gave up on just about everything else - her family, love, a chance of an uninjured future! But to her protecting Sunweald, the heir in waiting and his uncle, the Regent, was worth it.

This older warrior may be looked upon by the newer recruits as a bit of a carmudgeon and past her prime but she can swing a sword and lop off limbs with the best of them. But when an assassin strikes and Briar finally succumbs to an injury she can't just shrug off, she realises that she may just be past her best and *gulp* determines it may be time to hang up her sword!

But an attack by Wildwood Reivers with the help of traitorous allies within her own castle walls, means Briar is back in protector mode and she will face down any and all enemies!

Fantasy with plenty of blood, guts, action and derring-do but with a core of humour, found family and a burgeoning romance! I loved that the main characters are older and a bit cranky and slow to bounce back. They are so much more lifelike. The camaraderie between the Warband Shields, Briar and the Regent is really heartwarming and the insults fly thick and fast.

Early on, Briar suffers an injury which makes her question her entire purpose and ability. Pushing past this, recovering physically and mentally, was written deftly with great care and exceeding insight to Briar’s character.

I am rather proud of Briar and her denial/acceptance of her new limitations. As a mobility challenged person I did all the same things - denied it, face-planted more than once, forgot not to try and do some things and made injuries worse. The slow acceptance of your new normal - it was like seeing a rather more blood-thirsty and capable me on the page!

I am ecstatic that I guessed all the bad guys - even that sneaky once that I almost thought was going to be a good guy! I had a rollicking good time in Sunweald and I really hope we haven't seen the last of Briar, Alaric and co.

This was easily my most wished for ARC because Cameron Johnston has become one of my favorite writers with The Maleficent Seven, when he made readers cheer for the bad guys.

In The Last Shield I cheered again, this time though not for a villain but for Briar, a skilled veteran fighter who goes through a long period of time recovering from a poisoned wound received in battle.
I adore how Johnston wrote her breakdown and her strength, how she is not a teenage super chosen one but a very real, mature woman who has earned her skills in combat and also knows how to fight dirty when necessary.

Another thing I like very much are the action scenes. Johnston always gets you right in the front lines, you feel every slash and crack and sneak along with your heroes. There was also a tiny hint of romance and a good character growth for one of the side characters.

Overall this is once more a wonderful story, the comparison as a genderbend Die Hard is valid.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC!

3.5

The Last Shield is an action-packed ride, reminiscent of Die Hard.. if it was set in a castle with a fantasy backdrop. The main character Briar is the commander of a group of warriors known as the Shields and their top priority is protecting the royals at Sunweald Palace. So when the king’s regent Alaric gets captured by the enemies, Briar and her allies race against the clock to return him safely back to the palace. I liked that the characters are older and I appreciated the way the author weaved Briar’s disability into the story. She’s still shown as a strong fighter who is very much capable, even with the severe damage done to her leg. There’s some great side characters as well as the added humor from Briar. I enjoyed reading this one but I have to admit that it never fully sucked me in— I felt no intense need to finish this book. I had a good time reading it but I just don’t think it’s one that will stick with me.

I really enjoyed this book! The first third introduced the world, the characters and the conflicts between different groups of people.

The final two thirds were my favourite and they flew by! Here we follow the main character as she tries to take down the enemies one by one to protect the Regent and the secrets hidden within the castle.

I thought this was a great setting for this book. All of the secret tunnels and the layout of the castle made for a very entertaining and quick read as the enemies were gradually picked off. I was really routing for Briar and really enjoyed her as a character.

Because of the nature of this book, there are trigger warnings for violence and death, but nothing overly graphic or gory.

Thank you to Angry Robot and Netgalley for sending me a copy to review.

Fantasy, gender-bent Die Hard with sorcery and lots of gore? Hell yeah.

The Last Shield was a fun, tower defense book that sees Briar fighting tooth and nail to protect the Wyrm Vault in the castle she works in. She's great... an older, witty and cunning character with a no BS attitude that definitely knows how to fight. This is quite the tale, although there isn't a ton of plot, following Briar pick off bad guys is 100% a good time.

The characters and struggles felt real, and I thought Cameron Johnston did a wonderful job portraying both the world and people in it.

The Last Shield is a great book to pick up in between massive fantasy series - such a refreshing standalone!

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S THE LAST SHIELD ABOUT?
Briar is the commander of the Shield, the Royal Guard protecting the soon-to-be-King; his uncle, the Lord Regent; and the castle that serves as the capital for the realm of Sunweald. She's been in the post for several years, also serving as the personal bodyguard and confidant of the regent.

There are two neighboring kingdoms that would like to take over Sunweald, as well as to loot the castle's vault, which, according to legend, contains the kind of magical weaponry that can remake the world. Keeping that vault safe, secure, and unmolested is one of Briar's primary responsibilities.

The prince is set to take over in just a couple of years, and Kester is the prototypical spoiled, indolent, and irresponsible royal who no one can imagine can/should assume the throne. Maybe, if he grows up a lot before becoming an adult, but that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, the realm is in the incredibly capable and wise hands of his uncle Alaric

During a seasonal religious rite, an attack against the royal family leaves several guards dead and Briar near death, they have foiled the attempt, but at a great cost. After a long convalescence she's recovered enough to move around a little bit, but not fit to return to active duty. After half a year of waiting and plotting, the survivors and some mercenary allies attack the castle from within—taking Alaric and some of the staff hostage, and killing others. Briar and Kester happen to be in just the right place and escape the sweep that collected so many. It's up to them, each in their own way, to use Briar's knowledge of the castle (and hidden passageways) to mount a rescue mission and to take down the small force who have taken over.

SHIELDS
I'm talking literal shields here, not Briar and her guard.

Growing up, the only way I saw shields used was defensively—to block arrows or swords—until someone had to valiantly discard them because their dominant hand/arm was injured and they had to desperately use their shield arm to wield a sword, obviously. The only exception to this was Captain America (and a DC clone or two) and his implausible use of his.

And that's pretty much how I saw the objects until now. But Clay Cooper and Briar have got me thinking about them as offensive weapons now. Their shields are very different in terms of size and material—but they're both effectively used as a weapon. Briar does use her defensively, of course, but both prior to her time as a guerrilla fighter and now, she shows that a shield can be a potent weapon.

So my questions are: Have I missed how people use these things offensively all along? (either by reading the wrong things or not remembering anything but the swordplay, archery, and/or magic) Or have we entered an age where authors are embracing the full range of these objects strapped to an arm?

THE DIE HARD-NESS OF IT ALL
The Publisher's description of this novel starts off with, "A gender-flipped Die Hard set in a mysterious castle." And that's absolutely what the book is—is that description reductionistic? Yes. Is it apt? Also, yes. But it's also so much more than that summary. (but what a great elevator, pitch, right?)

I do not know if Johnston set out to write this as a Fantasy Die Hard, but at some point, he had to realize that's what he was doing and (if you ask me) leaned into it. There are just too many similarities for me to believe anything else. But really, there's one paragraph that seals the deal—I won't give you details (but you'll recognize it), but it is borrowing/appropriating/stealing an indelible image from the film. After reading that I knew it wasn't just some ingenious marketer at Angry Robot who tagged it as "A gender-flipped Die Hard set in a mysterious castle," as I half-way wondered, but it was Johnston's intention. There's just no way he does that.

I should stress that just because it's a version of a movie that you likely know very well—do not think you know how this book is going to go. There's plenty of suspense for the reader, as well as magical creatures that might have sent John McClane running for the hills.

Would I have been thoroughly entertained by The Last Shield without all the parallels to one of my all-time favorite movies? Yes. But being able to watch Johnston's take on McClane, Nakatomi Tower, and the rest? It's just an extra layer of frosting on an already delicious cake.

I do wish we'd gotten a Thornberg/William Atherton-esque character (should that get a spoiler warning), a non-villain that you despise almost as much as (if not more than) Gruber/his crew. Not because the novel was lacking anything, it's just satisfying to see them get their comeuppance.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE LAST SHIELD?
This is a heckuva thrill-ride. Like its cinematic predecessor, the action in this novel is top-notch. It's not non-stop, there are moments of reflection, of exhaustion, of trying to figure out how to survive—much less succeed against this force. The set-up to the main action also takes longer than you might think (but you should really just relax and let Johnston do his thing, it's all important and helps establish what comes later). I was hooked almost immediately—and while I wondered when the "Die Hard" part of the book would kick in, I really didn't care. I was having a good enough time with Briar, Alaric, and the rest.

But, boy howdy, when the action kicked in? What was a perfectly enjoyable book got so much better. Johnston can write an action scene—whether the action is hand-to-hand, bladed weapon against something else, supernatural-based...you name it, he can handle it with panache and aplomb. It's well paced—with just enough downtime between fight scenes for you and the characters to be ready for the next. Once the book builds up enough steam, forget it—you're not going to willingly put it down.

It's not all about swords, shields, axes, and spells, however. Briar dealing with her injuries and recovery—both before the "Hans Gruber" moment and afterward—is done to almost perfection. There's real growth—and real injury (and not just physical)—to be seen in several other characters. No one survives this time unscathed in one way or another.

The noted attorney and political operative Ainsley Hayes, noted, "they're all about duty" when discussing the work of Gilbert and Sullivan.* This book, at its core, is just as much about duty as The Pirates of Penzance or H.M.S. Pinafore. Briar, ready to give her life fighting when she's unfit for battle; Alaric, giving up decades of his life to step in as Lord Regent and govern; Kester figuring out what his obligations are to those he rules; several servants, guests, and others in the castle during the takeover carrying out their duties in what limited capacities they can as hostages—and the utter abandonment of duty by others. The Last Shield doesn't have to be thought of in terms of good vs. evil (while it applies, it's problematic when it comes to some characters). Instead, I suggest that it's better seen whether these people live up to their duty/obligation or do they abandon that for selfish gain.**

And, there is something incredibly appealing to that way of thinking in our incredibly polarized and me-centric time. All sorts of people considering the cost and putting aside their wants/desires/lives in favor do doing what they're supposed to do anyway.

* Yes, there's no need to bring Ainsely into this, but I can't help thinking of her and that line—or Leo, or Lionel Tribbey, etc.—when I think about duty.
** There are one or two characters who took over the castle that you could put forward against my claim, but I think I could make a strong (spoiler-filled) case in my defense, so I won't do that pre-emptively.

I should probably talk a little about the three magic systems at work in this world—but this thing is going on too long already. But I really like seeing that diversity at work.

It wasn't until I was preparing this post that I realized that Johnston wrote The Maleficent Seven , a book I've been meaning to get around to for ages. Now I'm even more motivated to do that ( The Traitor God , too, come to think of it).

But that's for another day, for today, I just want to revel in the near-perfection of this roller-coaster of a novel. I had such a good time with this novel and I've been telling everyone I know about it (I even think I sold the manager of a local bookstore on it, hopefully, he continues that chain). I was ready to read it again as soon as I was done.

Fantasy readers and action-adventure readers alike will dig this one. Go get your orders in now, unless you're reading this on or after August 13—in that case, run down to your local indie bookstore and pick it up.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Angry Robot Books via NetGalley—thanks to both for this.

I loved this! Briar is the very devoted commander of the Shields. After thwarting an assassination attempt, she is plagued with what will be a lifelong injury. While preparing to leave the Palace, she is taken by surprise when some of her own Shields attempt a takeover with a powerful sorceress leading them.

Immediately I was drawn to Briar and her grit. She stood out among many great characters. And what followed was a fabulous adventure I didn’t want to end. It was full of magic, treason, battles and so much more. This went to the top of my favorite fantasy reads and I wish this was a series!

Thank you to Angry Robot for the copy!

The book releases August 13, 2024.

eARC Review: The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston 🛡️

I’m usually not a big fan of action movies as they leave me an even bigger anxious wreck than I normally am because of all the nonstop action scenes. This book though, I would happily watch this even though my anxiety levels would be through the ROOF! 😧

This book is described as a gender bent Die Hard set in a castle. I will be honest that I had to Google the movie and read the summary just to get an idea of what that description even meant. 😅

The story follows Briar, a kick ass knight in charge of protecting the realm’s regent, Alaric. I honestly couldn’t help but picture a mix of Brielle of Tarth from Game of Thrones and the Queen of American rugby, Ilona Maher, as Briar the entire time I was reading this, and man was this mental image EPIC. I loved that Johnston portrayed this warrior woman as someone who has worked hard to be where she is and doesn’t take her position for granted. I also loved the smidge of romance between her and her charge, and really enjoyed a relationship where the woman is physically stronger and more imposing than her male love interest. 🥹

The main action of the book happens around the 50% mark so this might not be fans who like action from the get-go, but once it gets going. . . oh boy, does it steam roll you. I thought the plot did a wonderful job building to that 50% mark and really showed how high stakes the whole thing was. I couldn’t have asked for a more thorough plot build than this! 🤯

This might be considered spoilerish, but the only thing I did find myself wishing more for was more of a history about Hisparren itself and how Imperatix was linked to it in the first place. 🦴

Other than that, this was a fantastic action packed fantasy standalone that really transports you to a wonderful Scotland inspired world. Big thank you goes to Angry Robot and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review, and the author, Johnston, for making me enjoy an action movie like plot for once. I was happily stressed to the NINES with this. 😨

Publication date: August 13!

Overal: 4.75/5 ⭐️